Alamo Statues

By Randall Stevens

I came across this monument in 1968, during my initial visit to the Alamo, and was very impressed. It stands in Alamo Plaza, the Cenotaph—aptly titled "The Spirit of Sacrifice." It was erected in 1936 to commemorate the centennial of the Battle of the Alamo, and honors the 189 Texian and Tejano defenders who perished in 1836. In this rendition, I aimed to capture the profound reverence it embodies. The carvings of Travis, Bowie, Crockett, and Bonham, along with the central figure, represent the spirit of sacrifice. A side note, I took the liberty of etching an Eastwood sneer on Crockett. I thought it apropos.